Academic Writing Sample Task 1 #50
You should spend about 20 minutes on this
task.
The diagram
below gives the information about the Hawaiian island chain in the centre of the
Pacific Ocean.
Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown.
You should write at least 150 words.
model answer:
The Hawaiian island chain, in the centre
of the Pacific Ocean, is approximately 2,700 km in length. It is formed of
volcanoes and the active ones are at the south-east tip of the archipelago,
where Hawaii itself is located.
It is believed that the chain began to form nearly 80 million years ago. Each
island started to evolve after an eruption on the sea floor. First, a `hot spot'
existed on the ocean bed, which let out a plume of material called magma. This
magma may originate as deep as 2,883km below the ocean bed. Next, further
eruptions took place, which built up the volcano. Eventually, it emerged above
the surface of the ocean.
Since that time, the spume of magma has remained static as the Pacific tectonic
plate moves in a north-west direction across it at a speed of 7-9cm per year. As
it moves, a volcano forms as it passes over the hotspot and then become inactive
when it has passed it.
(164 words)